Crying Is Like the Rain: A Story of Mindfulness and Feelings

Centering on a child getting walked to school by an older sibling, Feinberg uses the changing weather as an extended metaphor for fluctuating emotions. Textural illustrations by Kellogg provide a sprightly backdrop to the characters’ journey. Two consecutive spreads—one depicting clear skies as the duo traverse a rural road, the next depicting the gathering storm as a man tending his sunflowers waves to the siblings—stand out, the perspective shift reflecting characters’ reactions to the weather. While some passages feel heavy-handed (“When you are worried or upset,/ scared or lonely, or something deep/ within feels off balance, there is/ a storm building inside you”), the book stands as a reliable entrée for adults to support young readers’ emotional processing. Back matter includes mindfulness activities and advice for caretakers on how to discuss feelings with children. Ages 6–8. (Aug.)